National Council does not want to prescribe federal planning of asylum places
Published: Tuesday, Dec 19th 2023, 12:01
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The National Council does not want to impose any requirements on the federal government regarding capacity planning for the initial accommodation of asylum seekers. On Tuesday, it rejected a motion by the Finance Committee of the Council of States by a narrow majority of 94 votes to 93, with one abstention.
The proposal by the Council of States committee is therefore off the table. It called for the reception capacities for asylum seekers to be planned comprehensively and coordinated across the country. Civil defense facilities should also be included in this. Last but not least, this should make the construction of container villages unnecessary.
In the summer session of the Council of States, a loan of 130 million Swiss francs for the establishment of places for asylum seekers in container villages on army property failed. The Federal Council had requested a "yes" to the motion with a view to future planning.
In the National Council, a majority did not consider it expedient to set targets for the Federal Council, partly because there was already a plan in place, as spokesperson Sarah Wyss (SP/BS) explained. It is also possible that a guilty conscience over the Council of States' decision against the funds for containers led the small chamber to vote in favor of the motion.
Opponents of the motion also argued that army facilities should be used to fulfill the defense mission.
Currently around 10,600 places with the federal government
The number of incoming asylum applications fluctuates greatly and has gone up to 3,500 applications in one month, explained Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider. The need for accommodation is therefore greater than previously assumed.
The federal government currently has around 10,600 places available, around a third of which are in facilities run by the Department of Defense (DDPS). Thanks to the joint efforts of the State Secretariat for Migration, the cantons and the DDPS, there will be no premature allocations of asylum seekers to the cantons this winter.
In 2024, however, further joint efforts will be necessary in order to continue to avoid premature allocations to the cantons, the Justice Minister said, explaining the Federal Council's vote in favor of the motion.
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